Dignified End-of-life Chair

About the chair

DeMens.nu installed the Chair for Dignified End-of-Life at VUB. Together with the VUB hospital UZ Brussel, VUB is the great pioneer in the pursuit of a dignified end of life. We do this both as innovators of care models and by taking an unbiased look at all end-of-life decisions. 

In Belgium, the quality of death still contrasts sharply with the high quality of life. The Dignified End-of-Life chair wants to contribute to the improvement of this quality, with respect for the patient's will. This chair is the first to consider all options at the end of life as equivalent. 

The chair is part of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy.

As one of the pioneers in Belgium for the recognition of palliative care, Wim fights for the right to euthanasia. For this, he was awarded the Ark Prize of the Free Word in 2003. In 2012, he became Ambassador of the Davidsfonds and was accoladed as one of the 'Heroes of the Euthanasia Act' by the Humanist Liberal Association.

As a founder, Wim was in the vanguard of several initiatives on palliative care. He has been chairman of Federation Palliative Care Flanders and is currently co-chairman of the Federal Euthanasia Commission and representative of the Belgian government to the Committee of Experts on the Organisation of Palliative Care within the Council of Europe.

Finally, Wim is the author of several foreign and domestic scientific articles and founder of the journal Palliative Care.

• VUB professor Wim Distelmans receives grant for social commitment to a dignified end of life.
• LEIF marks its 10th anniversary in KVS.
• VUB launches 'PALM', an intensive course of training in palliative care for medical practitioners and Masters. Acceptance of euthanasia is growing in Western Europe.